Sickness happens! Maybe it was spending twelve hours on a plane with sneezing strangers, or maybe you’re just too tired. Either way, now you’re vomiting, running a fever, and coughing a lung out, sick in a foreign city. How do you deal with an illness in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine?
First, it is worth mentioning that the hospitals, whether municipal or private, are where to go when one needs to see a general practitioner. Local doctors’ offices tend to have specialists, which cater to specific diagnoses rather than general illnesses or injuries.
Bring Your Medications If You Take Any!
The first tip is to prepare before you leave home. If you take any regular medications, for allergies or chronic illnesses of any sort, it would be a good idea to bring enough for the duration of your time abroad. Stocking up on some familiar medicines for stomach issues or colds may also be a good idea since you’re already familiar with how to use them.
Contracting traveler’s diarrhea or stomach issues is almost a rite of passage with any prolonged trip overseas. To prepare for the possibility of more serious infections to the digestive tract, consider visiting your doctor and asking for an antibiotic for emergencies. Also, use this opportunity to make sure you are up-to-date with your vaccinations.
Pharmacies In Hebron, West Bank, Palestine
Should you feel sick even with these precautions, don’t fret. Your first stop, as it would be at home, would be to the pharmacy. There are many pharmacies in Hebron, Palestine, that are easy to find and the pharmacists are happy to help you.
Connor from the USA, 24, recalls: “I caught a cold in Cairo before I came to Hebron, Palestine. By the time I arrived, I felt like I was dying. Another volunteer walked me to the pharmacy and the pharmacist greeted me in English. He asked me about my symptoms and understood my explanation perfectly. The pills he gave me were much cheaper than those in the United States and they worked better. Within a few days, I felt brand new!”
Numerous Doctors And Other Medical Professionals
Should your illness persist, you’ll find that like any other city, Hebron, Palestine has numerous doctors and other medical professionals that can help you. All volunteers are required to come with health insurance, so while you may have to make an upfront payment, you should be able to get any visit to a medical professional partially or fully reimbursed through your insurance company. Particularly if you are coming from the US, you will find it much cheaper here than at home.
The staff at Travel to Palestine or your host family can refer you to the right doctor for you. In addition, Hebron, Palestine is home to one of the biggest Palestinian hospitals in the West Bank:
List of hospitals and Medical Clinic in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine:
| Hebron Public Hospital (‘Alyah) | Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC) |
| Mohammad Ali Al Muhtaseb Hospital | Medical Clinic Of Islamic Charitable Society |
| Al Mizan Specialist Hospital | Al Ahli Hospital – Patient’s Friends Society |
| Al Hureya Medical Center | Red Crescent Hospital |
If you’re out of town for the weekend and come down with a sudden illness don’t worry; Israel has a universal healthcare system and facilities that rival the best on earth. Staff members are always a phone call away to be reached in such emergencies. In the case of emergencies within Hebron, the city is equipped with emergency services such as ambulances, firefighters, and police officers who will rush to your aid.
Numerous Plants That Can Help With Your Sickness
If you choose a more natural route to cure your ailment, the agricultural economy of Palestine produces numerous plants that can help with your sickness. Tea is a staple in Palestine, along with the rest of the Middle East, so pour some honey into your cup along with a recommended tea and your throat will be soothed and your immune system strengthened. Note that in Palestine “tea” only refers to drinks made from tea leaves. There are also many hot drinks in Palestine made from steeping herbs such as sage, rosemary, and mint in hot water, which are also delicious and excellent for your immune system.
Additionally, many spices are available in shops throughout the old city which Palestinians have used as home remedies for centuries. Oranges and other citrus fruits packed with Vitamin C are also inexpensive and widely available in the markets.
Final Remarks
Illness happens all around the world, and there is a good chance that at some on your trip you may feel down. While getting sick during your time in Palestine can be frustrating, it needn’t be a cause for too much stress; Hebron and Palestine at large is equipped with numerous options to better your health and leave you feeling better than when you arrived.
When some of our previous volunteers, interns, and students have fallen ill, they have been able to find everything they need in Hebron to become better. Additionally, if you get sick during your time with us, Travel to Palestine’s staff, your fellow international participants, and your host family or roommates will be there to help you out however you need. While we hope you can avoid any illnesses or injuries during your time with us, but in case it happens, just let us know and we will help you however we can!
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